WPM 2024/25 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

I hope we will use our other import spots - we definitely need another striker at least.

Understand the club will want to go cheap with imports and I don't blame them one bit, but we still lack experience and international pedigree.

lthomas20

I hope we will use our other import spots - we definitely need another striker at least.

Understand the club will want to go cheap with imports and I don't blame them one bit, but we still lack experience and international pedigree.

Chief and Gilly have a fantastic track record over the last few seasons in the transfer market, so I'm fully on board with whatever they decide to run with.

RR

lthomas20

I hope we will use our other import spots - we definitely need another striker at least.

Understand the club will want to go cheap with imports and I don't blame them one bit, but we still lack experience and international pedigree.

Chief and Gilly have a fantastic track record over the last few seasons in the transfer market, so I'm fully on board with whatever they decide to run with.

They have a very good record with their visa signings, but I'd agrue CCM have just been that bit better.

If we include Chief as recruiting with Talay as coach, I'd say Sandoval, Sasse & Salas haven't been as good as comparable Latino visas at the Mariners. Plus yes great club man though he is, Ball is a fading force.

But 100% trust them Oluwayemi is the right sort of choice, when trying to replicate what Paulsen offered. No one in Aus/NZ suitable, and when you are operating with a heavily reduced APL's disbursement - best to go looking for a cheapest young ambitious visa GK, hopefully with the right skill set. Can't understand anyone going "Meh" on this signing. Fingers crossed he works out.

When would we expect tickets to go sale for the Round 3 game v AKL FC? I've purchased flights and are coming up from Ch-Ch for the game.

Cheers

RR

lthomas20

I hope we will use our other import spots - we definitely need another striker at least.

Understand the club will want to go cheap with imports and I don't blame them one bit, but we still lack experience and international pedigree.

Chief and Gilly have a fantastic track record over the last few seasons in the transfer market, so I'm fully on board with whatever they decide to run with.

Yep I'm in agreement - just hope the club uses all 5 spots (i.e. get two more)

While the import slots should be used to strengthen the team where you can't find NZ or Australian players, I've always thought if we have any spare import slots we should use it to develop Oceania players.

Ryan

While the import slots should be used to strengthen the team where you can't find NZ or Australian players, I've always thought if we have any spare import slots we should use it to develop Oceania players.

Yeh I agree with this. lately they seem to have been keeping a visa spot open for January.
But January signings never seem to have the desired impact. No time for foreigners to adapt to NZ and the A league. 

While Salas wasn’t perfect, he almost did enough to help get us over the line. It was a decent theory and almost a good result.

No coach in their right mind would play out from the back with Woud. His nervousness is infectious- almost feel like my heart is going to leap out of my chest when I watch him play.

No manager wants to die of a heart attack from something like that 

Marto

Most here are impressed with this signing, as for me it’s very meh.

If we’re going young and playing out from the back we should have gone after Would. I’d far rather use that cash on outfield players and use kiwis in goal.

lthomas20

RR

lthomas20

I hope we will use our other import spots - we definitely need another striker at least.

Understand the club will want to go cheap with imports and I don't blame them one bit, but we still lack experience and international pedigree.

Chief and Gilly have a fantastic track record over the last few seasons in the transfer market, so I'm fully on board with whatever they decide to run with.

Yep I'm in agreement - just hope the club uses all 5 spots (i.e. get two more)

Imagine if Ball isn't counted as an import at some point... 

JasperNix

No coach in their right mind would play out from the back with Woud. His nervousness is infectious- almost feel like my heart is going to leap out of my chest when I watch him play.

No manager wants to die of a heart attack from something like that 

Marto

Most here are impressed with this signing, as for me it’s very meh.

If we’re going young and playing out from the back we should have gone after Would. I’d far rather use that cash on outfield players and use kiwis in goal.

he's been poor I know and I've been quick to say drop him from the AWs but I get the feeling a good run of games at a decent level might show us the real player that I don't think we the fans have seen.

Marto

JasperNix

No coach in their right mind would play out from the back with Woud. His nervousness is infectious- almost feel like my heart is going to leap out of my chest when I watch him play.

No manager wants to die of a heart attack from something like that 

Marto

Most here are impressed with this signing, as for me it’s very meh.

If we’re going young and playing out from the back we should have gone after Would. I’d far rather use that cash on outfield players and use kiwis in goal.

he's been poor I know and I've been quick to say drop him from the AWs but I get the feeling a good run of games at a decent level might show us the real player that I don't think we the fans have seen.

 But wil he actually get a run of games? - He will be behind AP.

maynardf

Marto

JasperNix

No coach in their right mind would play out from the back with Woud. His nervousness is infectious- almost feel like my heart is going to leap out of my chest when I watch him play.

No manager wants to die of a heart attack from something like that 

Marto

Most here are impressed with this signing, as for me it’s very meh.

If we’re going young and playing out from the back we should have gone after Would. I’d far rather use that cash on outfield players and use kiwis in goal.

he's been poor I know and I've been quick to say drop him from the AWs but I get the feeling a good run of games at a decent level might show us the real player that I don't think we the fans have seen.

 But wil he actually get a run of games? - He will be behind AP.

Exactly. 
The Nix may as well approach AFC and see if we can loan him.  

Unless AP blows out the way Sail did, he'll not get off the pine.

We've signed our first choice keeper too.

Marto

maynardf

Marto

JasperNix

No coach in their right mind would play out from the back with Woud. His nervousness is infectious- almost feel like my heart is going to leap out of my chest when I watch him play.

No manager wants to die of a heart attack from something like that 

Marto

Most here are impressed with this signing, as for me it’s very meh.

If we’re going young and playing out from the back we should have gone after Would. I’d far rather use that cash on outfield players and use kiwis in goal.

he's been poor I know and I've been quick to say drop him from the AWs but I get the feeling a good run of games at a decent level might show us the real player that I don't think we the fans have seen.

 But wil he actually get a run of games? - He will be behind AP.

Exactly. 
The Nix may as well approach AFC and see if we can loan him.  

Unless AP blows out the way Sail did, he'll not get off the pine.

What would be the point, he'd be second choice here too. AFC would have no reason to either, I'm sure they're quite pleased having him as a second choice instead of a younger and less experienced keeper

There's also a chance (small yes), that the Cherries come the January window may send Paulsen elsewhere on loan. Him coming to AFC is so he continues to develop by actually playing, but we can also see it's a great PR stunt by the Black Knights.

Who knows by Jan next year, they may find another home loan for him in Europe, and feel they have milked the 'got one over the Nix' PR stuff enough. Feel Woud just needs to be patient. AP ain't likely to be in Auckland past one season I reckon.

coochiee

There's also a chance (small yes), that the Cherries come the January window may send Paulsen elsewhere on loan. Him coming to AFC is so he continues to develop by actually playing, but we can also see it's a great PR stunt by the Black Knights.

Who knows by Jan next year, they may find another home loan for him in Europe, and feel they have milked the 'got one over the Nix' PR stuff enough. Feel Woud just needs to be patient. AP ain't likely to be in Auckland past one season I reckon.

This would be the only acceptable outcome (unless FFA pull the pin). 

Go on FFA, I dare you!

When is the FFA likely to decide the Caceres Rule changes?

santy

When is the FFA likely to decide the Caceres Rule changes?

The will take their time about it, like they do with everything, delay after delay - plenty of time to fudge around, season doesnt start for months. 

Hopefully some time around May 2025

🚨EXCL:
Former Japan international Kazuki Nagasawa, who plays for J2 side Vegalta Sendai is close to signing with an unnamed New Zealand club🇳🇿✅ https://t.co/YDRDD9H3CY

— Marco Molla (@MarcoMolla) August 19, 2024

'Unnamed' but doesn't particularly scream out to me as being a Nix signing. 

32 | CM/DM | Decent career longevity wise (Europe as well) but definitely not the same pedigree as what Sakai has behind him.

https://x.com/AleagueHub/status/1825825998702784941

Kazuki Nagasawa 32yo Japanese midfielder linked to a NZ side, currently in J2 but spent 6 seasons before that in the J1 (120 app). One Japan cap and 20 appearances for FC Koln 10 years ago. 

Didn't Cheify do a visit to Japan recently? If so that'll be our guy.

Rock Hopper

Didn't Cheify do a visit to Japan recently? If so that'll be our guy.

he did but do we need another bloke in the DM position? I thought we'd be shopping for a striker which is what I thought the Chief said in the same interview (as well as the keeper which we've now got)

We need Pennington/Old/Salas replacements. And Chief never turns down a guy who can tackle and pass well! 

We don’t know if Retre or Marco is one of the above. 

But also could be Auckland if they are short in that position? 

Auckland definitely look a bit light at the moment for that DM position.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/new-zealand/auckland/65243/

coochiee

Auckland definitely look a bit light at the moment for that DM position.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/new-zealand/auckland/65243/

Yeah surely its an AFC signing they only really have Howieson as an A-League starting CM in their squad. Brimmer is a lot better as a 10 and not really sure of Toomey quality, probs more of a rotation option. 

We've got Al-Taay, Rufer, Retre all good enough to be starting A-League CM's and then we have Conchie for rotation too, so would be dumb for us to sign a visa CM while we need a ST as I can't see us using all 5 slots. 

Wonder if Lewis is found not guilty (his trial is pretty soon iirc) if Auckland or us will go for him or if his career is done regardless of verdict. I'd imagine MacArthur would want to move on.

He's too old for a typical Chief import signing. Would go against the trend of previous imports 

Ryan

Wonder if Lewis is innocent (his trial is pretty soon iirc) if Auckland or us will go for him or if his career is done regardless of verdict. I'd imagine MacArthur would want to move on.

Pretty big if, especially if Davilla has pointed the finger at him. 

wilbaker

coochiee

Auckland definitely look a bit light at the moment for that DM position.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/new-zealand/auckland/65243/

Yeah surely its an AFC signing they only really have Howieson as an A-League starting CM in their squad. Brimmer is a lot better as a 10 and not really sure of Toomey quality, probs more of a rotation option. 

We've got Al-Taay, Rufer, Retre all good enough to be starting A-League CM's and then we have Conchie for rotation too, so would be dumb for us to sign a visa CM while we need a ST as I can't see us using all 5 slots. 

Exactly this!

I said the other week we needed a goalkeeper, a striker, and a left winger. Preferably in that order too.

We've got the goalkeeper, now we need a quality striker who also has a little height on him. As stated, it wouldn't make sense given the options we have in midfield already - Arguably already the strongest part of our squad as it currently stands.

Screams out as an Auckland signing to be honest. For what it's worth him and Hiroshi Sakai follow each other on IG too. 😂

FWIW, Nagasawa's not naturally a defensive midfielder - definitely more nimble and creative, and played regularly on the wing and even up front in the past. 

If he signs for the Nix, given the glut of players at DM he'll likely be in one of those 10 slots (though could slot back like Lewis did if numbers suddenly become thin), and if he signs for Auckland he wouldn't be playing in their relatively weak DM spot

mrsmiis

FWIW, Nagasawa's not naturally a defensive midfielder - definitely more nimble and creative, and played regularly on the wing and even up front in the past. 

If he signs for the Nix, given the glut of players at DM he'll likely be in one of those 10 slots (though could slot back like Lewis did if numbers suddenly become thin), and if he signs for Auckland he wouldn't be playing in their relatively weak DM spot

That does sound like a Kraev/Pennington type replacement! Someone who can hold the ball against a strong press and make a good pass. 

Ryan

Wonder if Lewis is found not guilty (his trial is pretty soon iirc) if Auckland or us will go for him or if his career is done regardless of verdict. I'd imagine MacArthur would want to move on.

That would be a surprising outcome....

Ryan

Wonder if Lewis is found not guilty (his trial is pretty soon iirc) if Auckland or us will go for him or if his career is done regardless of verdict. I'd imagine MacArthur would want to move on.

I believe his trial is tomorrow (Aug 22) I feel like I heard that somewhere. But if it drags on at all no A-League club will be willing to take a punt on him or Baccus even if they are cleared

If Lewis is found innocent, I'd say MAC will want to retain him. They have lost/released Kearyn Baccus, Lachlan Rose and Davila. Lewis's partner Narelle Sindois also has her dream TV football job in Sydney so I doubt she will want to leave.

But yeah if Lewis is cleared but still leaves MAC, I reckon Auckland would be very keen. Currently they look light in midfield, he's a Kiwi, and a proven ALM performer.

coochiee

If Lewis is found innocent, I'd say MAC will want to retain him. They have lost/released Kearyn Baccus, Lachlan Rose and Davila. Lewis's partner Narelle Sindois also has her dream TV football job in Sydney so I doubt she will want to leave.

But yeah if Lewis is cleared but still leaves MAC, I reckon Auckland would be very keen. Currently they look light in midfield, he's a Kiwi, and a proven ALM performer.

MAC have torn up his contract havent they?

theprof

coochiee

If Lewis is found innocent, I'd say MAC will want to retain him. They have lost/released Kearyn Baccus, Lachlan Rose and Davila. Lewis's partner Narelle Sindois also has her dream TV football job in Sydney so I doubt she will want to leave.

But yeah if Lewis is cleared but still leaves MAC, I reckon Auckland would be very keen. Currently they look light in midfield, he's a Kiwi, and a proven ALM performer.

MAC have torn up his contract havent they?

 hasn't been announced. As far as I know.

MAC have released Baccus and terminated the contract of Davila.
Pretty sure Lewis is still on their books for now.